Process for the manufacture of monopotassium phosphate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of monopotassium phosphate using solvent extraction technique. According to the invention, the reaction occurs between phosphoric acid and potassium chloride at a temperature between 0 and 100 degrees C. in the presence of an organic solvent comprising a long chain primary amine having between 6 to 28 carbon atoms. The lower phase containing monopotassium phosphate and dipotassium phosphate is acidulated with a solution of phosphoric acid to a pH in the range of between 2 to 6, whereby crystallized monopotassium phosphate is obtained and separated. The upper phase which contains the organic solvent, aminehydrochloric acid as well as most of the impurities originally present in the starting reagents, is treated with a base at a temperature in the range of 20 to 100 degrees C. whereby the amine is regenerated and recycled to the process. Typical examples of suitable bases are calcium oxide, calcium carbonate or mixtures thereof. The monopotassium phosphate obtained is characterized by its high purity.

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